• Nease boasts strong O-line

  • By JC Shurburtt | February 16, 2010 8:48:25 AM PST
The high school that produced Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow and a host of other Division I signees in recent years has another good batch of prospects for the Class of 2011 and two potential difference-makers for the Class of 2012.Nease High in Ponte Vedra, Fla., has seven potential Division I prospects in this year's class. Running back Devin Flynn had 898 rushing yards and five touchdowns during his junior year and was an all-county selection. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder also caught 11 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.Wake Forest (which has signed five prospects from Nease during the past three recruiting cycles), SMU, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Florida State, Duke, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Auburn, Kentucky, Connecticut, Florid International, Florida Atlantic, Central Florida and South Florida all have been showing interest. There are three offensive linemen who have Division I potential. Nease sent two offensive linemen, James Wilson (Florida) and Clyde Yandell (Georgia Tech) to BCS conference programs in the Class of 2007.Jaylen Hunter is a 6-foot-4, 275-pounder with a good wingspan, athleticism and upside. He was an all-county selection his junior year and his coaches rave about what he could become. Wake Forest, Connecticut, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Florida International and Florida Atlantic all are showing interest. Bobby Marvin is a 6-foot-3. 285-pound interior prospect who moves well and has good strength. Georgia Tech, Florida State, Troy, Florida Atlantic and Florida International are all showing interest. Jeff Koch was all-county honorable mention and plays both sides of the ball. He had 57 tackles as a defensive lineman last year. He is getting some looks from Ivy League programs.There are three versatile jumbo athletes that could play multiple positions, such as tight end, defensive end, H-back, fullback, etc. Matt Roth earned All-County honorable mention honors as a junior. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder could be a defensive end, outside linebacker or tight end in college. He had 13.5 sacks last season and 27 tackles for loss. Florida, Florida State, Connecticut, Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Northwestern, Utah and Vanderbilt all have been showing early interest. James Abbatinozzi likely projects as an H-back or fullback in college. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has good hands and caught 29 passes for 462 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He was an all-county honorable mention selection and is getting attention from Wake Forest, Duke, Connecticut, Stanford and Northwestern. Max Chapman is a 6-foot-3, 230-pounder. had 65 tackles and 11 sacks last year. He projects as a defensive end/outside linebacker in college. Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Connecticut, Northwestern, Stanford and Duke are among the programs showing early attention. For the Class of 2012, the Nease coaching staff feels very good about athletes Jo Jo Brooks and Denzel Hayden. These prospects could project as defensive backs and be the first BCS conference signees in the secondary since Mario Butler signed with Georgia Tech in the 2007 class. Hayden had 11 pass break-ups last season to go along with 54 tackles, five forced fumbles and two interceptions. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder was an all-county honorable mention selection. Brooks is a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder who had 41 tackles and seven pass break-ups last season on defense and also earned All-county honorable mention honors.

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